Continuous brine purifier



July 1 i924.

H. 'D.l OXLEY CONTINUOUS BRINE PURIFIER Filed Feb l. f/m /III 2 Sheets-Sheet l fra/622 Z572' ili .Fuy 1 E924o H. D. OXLEY CONTINUOUS BRINE PURIFIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed FebY 2. 1924 duly l, i924- HERBERT D. 'OXLEYQ 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

` CONTINUOUS BRINE PUBIFIER.

yapparati@ 'mea February 2. 1924. serial No. esame.

To all whom, t may concern:

vBe it known that l', HERBERT D. OXLEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Continuous Brine Purifier, and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable-others skilled in the artito which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to methods and means for economically obtaining purified salt solutions, such as solutions of brine, and desirably for securing a continuous supply of such a saltsolution.:

ln using salt solutions for many purposes, it is highly important that the insoluble .portions of the initial supply of salt should be'removed from the solution which is to be used. AFor example, in employing brine for regenerating theactive material which is used in water softening apparatus, impurities A'inthe brine must be avoided, as their presence will lead to serious difliculties both by contaminating the softened water and by intermingling with the said active material so as to spoil the proper operativecon'- dition of the latter. For this reason, 'various grades of evaporated salt have heretofore commonly been employed in the reconditioning of the active material `used in water softening apparatus, it having been found impracticalfor the above reasons to employ the much cheaper rock salt although the .percentage of impurities in the rock salt available from certain sources is quite low. Apparatus has been devised and tried for purifying some of the grades of salt which my invention aims to provide methods andl means for this purpose which will permit of an easy and speedy removal of the collected impurities from the apparatus without introducing any :considerable loss of the brineY or salt; which will simplify the obtaining of a saturated clear brine solution and the diluting.` of the latter to any desired degree; which will' readily permit vthe 4 available amount of such a purified and saturated brine solution to be ascertained at a4 glance; and which will permit a continuousl operation of the brine dissolving Ipurifying and diluting apparatus with almost no attention on the part of the operator. 4

More particularly, my invention provides an apparatus employing gravity for forcing the water or other solvent through a layer of the desired salt superposed on a granular filtering material (such as gravel), provides simple and easily operated means for 'flushing the accumulated impurities out of this filtering material, provides convenient means for storing the resulting purified brine solution and for diluting the latter to any desired extent, provides easily adjusted control means* for permitting 'the apparatus to be operated to produce a brine solution` continuously, and provides simple means for returning any over-supply of the purified brine to the solvent.` AIt also provides means for introducing the supply of fresh water through the bed ofsalt so as.

to agitate the salt and to expedite' the dissolving of the salt while the water is working upward through the salt. Furthermore,

it provides means disposed above the granular filterinor material fon/flushing the latter and desirably employs the same water inletl pipe both for normally introducing water through the salt to dissolve the latter and for occasionally flushing sediment out of the gravel.

Moreover, my invention provides an apparatus in which ordinary gravel serves effectively for supporting the salt, provides simple means disposed considerably below y this gravel for catching such sediment as may pass through the gravel with the brine, provides means "for withdrawing the resulting purified brine upwardly so as not to carry such sediment further with it, and provides simple means for diluting the concentrated brine to any desired extent. Generally speaking, my invention also provides an apparatus which can readily be installed as a unitand which will be highly efficient even when operated by inexperienced parties. Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following specification `and from the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned perspective view, of an apparatus embodying my inventical section through the lower portion ofthe dissolving tank with a thin bed of salt on the grave Fig. 3 is an enlarged central and vertical section through the sump or sediment catching portion of the apparatus as operatively interposed between the dissolving tank and the purified brine container.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through anothen embodiment of my invention, namely an apparatus in which the purified brine container is constructed integral with'the dissolving tank and is arranged for feeding any overflow back into the dissolving tank.

Referring first to the embodiment of Fig.

1, this shows a vertical dissolving tank 1 supported above the Hoor by suitable legs 2 and closed at its upper end by a`top 3 through which an air vent pipe 4 extends. The tank has'a downwardly convexed bottom 5 provided at its lowermost portion with an outlet .leading through a-brine pipe 6 to a sump or sediment catcher 40. Within this dissolving tank I provide a foraminous false bottom, such as aflat plate 8 having a large number of perforations of a diameter smaller than that of the stones comprising the gravel 9 which is supported in a thick layer by this plate 8. Extending into the tank somewhat above the top of the gravel is a water pipe 10 which has an outlet portion provi ed with a large number of lateral openings. This pipe 10 is connected to a fresh water supply pipe 11, the connection between the two being controlled by a hand valve 12 disposed outside the tank.

The sump may be built in a variety of shapes, the form shown in section in Fig. Sbeing a drum 4:0 having the initial brine pipe 6 leading into one vertical head thereof while a puri ed brinev outlet pipe 13 leads from the opposite head of the drum. The

drum also has at its bottom a drain outletY 14' controlled by a valve 15, the inlet to this outlet pipe 14 being covered by a perforated plate 16. Within the drum 40 I also providev a pair of perforated screens 17V adjacent to the opposed heads of the drum,

the space between these heads being substantially filled with ygravel 18. When in use, the screens 16 and 17 preventfthe gravel from entering, the pipes respectively adjacent to these screens althoughperiit--v ting the free iow of brine through them,

while a detachable cover 19 permits access to the interior of the lsump for removing or replacing the gravel if this should be gravel being of such a size that it will not readily permit undissolved particles of the salt to pass through the spaces between its particles. The amount of salt thus intro! duced may be varied as desired, and where myapparatus is to be used for water softening purposes, the size of the dissolving tank and the quantity of salt introduced into it at' one time can readily be planned so as to take care of a twentyffour hour supply of the needed brine. In practice, the initial level of the salt preferably is con siderably above the water inlet pipe 10, ou that water introduced through this pipe will work upward through the salt, thereby agitating the latter and ei'ectin its solution much more speedily than coul be done by introducing the waterfrom the toptof the` tank. For this purpose, Iy merely open the valve 12 for a sufficient length of time, thereby causing the admitted fresh water to work up through the bed of salt and to fill the portion of the tank above the salt with water which already has some salt dissolved in it. Since salt water has a considerably higher specific gravity than clear water, the portion of the water containing the relatively larger percentage of salt tends to settle in the tank, thereby expediting 'my securing a concentrated solution of the salt.

While the major and soluble constituents of the original im ure salt are thus being dissolved, the insollllible sediment is usuall so fine that the greater part of it is carrie down with the concentrated brine through the perforated false bottom 8 into the bottom portion 5 'of the tank and then through the brine pipe' 6 into the sump. In passing through this sump, the brine has to fiow through another body of gravel and is drawn through this sump in a generally upward direction, .so that the insoluble salt or portions or thesediment which has passed into the sump with the brine will be retained in the latter by gravity. Consequently, only a clear and purified brine passes through the upwardly directed extension 21 of the pure brine pipe 13 into the tank 22 which I provide for storing the concentrated purified brine and which is supported by legs 23 so as to be disposed at a height considerably above the sediment catching sump. Where my apparatus is to has near itsflower end an outlet controlled by a valve 24 and leading through an ejector 2 5 to a distribution pipe 26 for the diluted brine.. vThis ejector includes la clear water injecting nozzle 27 which is here Modos@ shown as connected to the same fresh water supply pipe 11 andy controlled by a valve 28.'

In starting the apparatus, the valves28 are initially closed, whilethe valves 29and 30 which respectively-control the inlet and outlet ofthe lsump are open, so that as soon as water isi admitted into the dissolving tank by opening the valve 12, gravity'will cause theresulting brine to pass down 'through the sump and then up into the brine container 22 to agraduallyAv increasing height. Toindicate this height to the operator,I desirably provide aioat 32 within the tank-22,

` which float will be raised as the level of ythe concentrated `brine increases. By connecting .this iloat through ai weight to a cord 34 passing over an elevated pulley 35, I can readily cause the position of the weight to indicate the proportionate amount of brine in the purified brine tank. As soon as the diluted brine is to be used, I open the' valves 24 and 28 to an extent in proportion to the desired degree of dilution. l/Vhen this is done, the apparatus will continue automatically to supply brineof the' desired concentration, since the'gradual dissolving of the salt in the dissolving tank will replenish the supply of the concentrated brine in the pure brine container 22. When in operation, rthe suction of the ejector produces a corresponding downward suction through the gravel in the dissolving tank, thereby expediting l the' dissolving of the salt and causing the supply of brine to be adequately propor'- tioned to the drawing of thev concentrated brine from the'pure brine container.

In practice, I have found that with readily available'grades of rocksalt, my apparatus when thus arranged can be employed continuously for long stretches of time for supplying a perfectly clear and uniformly concentrated brinesolution, as the twn bodies of graveleli'ectively cooperate in removing this sedimentwhich consists of the relatively small insoluble portions'of such rock salt. 'Ihat is tosay, my apparatus does not cause theimpuritiesto accumulate in the lower portion of the 'salt body, so thata considerable amount of salt'hasto be removed intermittently and 4discarded along with .these impurities. Y

However, the watery inlet pipe 10 can also be used at any time for iiushing the gravel 8 if this should be thought desirable. l So also, by closing the valves 29 and 30 and opening the drain valve 15 I can permit the sediment which has accumulated in the sump to pass off through the drain pipe 14C, and by removing the cover `19 of the sump I can readily flush the gravel 18 with fresh water for facilitating the removal of the accumu.

lated sediment.

- However, while I have heretofore described an embodiment of my apparatus in which the concentrated brine container is Fig.- 4 shows another embodiment, 'namely' one in which the two tanks are constructed integral with each other.` In this case, the pure brine chamber 36-is integral with the dissolving tank 37 and directly 'below the usual concaved bottom 5 lof the latter, while the sump 37 is shown as having. itsoutlet pipe 13 disposed above'the sump inlet 6 and leadin into' one side of thev concentrated brine chamber 36. In this construction, I desirably provide a riser pipe 39 extending upwardly from the upper end of the brine chamber 36 and overhanging thel upwardly open dissolving tank 37, so that if the amount of concentrated brine produced by the apparatus exceeds the capacity of the chamber 36, the surplus will rise in the pipe 39 and overiiow into the dissolving tank.

With eitherA of illustrated forms of apparatus,'it will be obvious that the samey can readily be installed asl an entirety, and it will alsobe obvious that the method of operation is the same in each case.

I claim as my invention n 1. A purified brine producing apparatus comprising a dissolving tank, a perforated gravel* support above the bottom'thereof, a bed of gravel on` the said support for supporting a bed of theundissolved salt', a puribed of gravel on the said support for supporting a bed of the undissolved salt, a purified brinecontainer connected to the bottom of the said tank, a lsump chamber disposed in the connection between the tank and the purilied brine container and below both of the latterfland a filling of gravel in the sump chamber through which the brine must pass in iowing from the tank to the purified brine container, in combination with means for introducing dissolving water into the dissolving tank above the top of the gravel and below the normal top of the said salt bed.

. 3. A purified brine producing `apparatus comprisinga dissolvin tank, a perforated gravel support above t e bottom thereof, a

orting a bed of the undissolved salt, a puried brine container connected to the bottom of the said tank, a sump chamber disposedl in the connection between the tank and the purified brine container and below both of the latter, and a fillingv of gravel in the sump chamber through which the brine must pass in fiowing from the tank to the purified brine container, in combination with means for introducing dissolving water into the dissolving tank above the top of the gravel and below the normal top of the said salt bed, the said means being so disposed with respect to the top of the gravel as to serve also as a means for flushing the gravel when the tank is empty of water and salt. y

4. purifiedbrine producing apparatus comprising a dissolving tank, a brine container having its bottom lower than that of the said tank, a duct leading from the bottom of the tank to the container, a foraminous false bottom within the tank, a saltsupportingbed of gravel on Ithefalse bottom, the gravel being of such a consistency as to prevent the passage of undissolvedvsa'lt crysta s between its particles, a water inlet extending into the tank and opening above and near the top of the gravel bed, and a sediment-catching body of gravel or the like disposed in the duct below the bottom of the container.

5. A purified brine producing apparatus comprislng a dissolving tank, abrine container having its bottom lower than that of the said tank, a duct leading from the bottom of the tank to the container, a foraminous false bottom within the tank, asaltsupporting bed of gravel on the false bottom, the gravelbeing of such a consistency as to prevent the passage of undissolved salt crystals between its particles, a water inlet extending into the tank and opening above and near the'top of the gravel bed, and a sediment-catching body of gravel orthe like disposed in the duct below the bottom of the container, an ejectorl connected to the container, and means for supplying fresh water to the ejector so as to dilute the ejected brine and so as to produce a suction for expediting the percolating of water through the salt and the gravel in the dissolving tank.

6. The method of making a purified salt solution, which consists in supporting the salt on/ a layer of gravel, causing water to dissolve the salt and to percolate through the gravel 1n the form of a -brine, causing the resultig brine to pass through another and lower body of avel, and thereafter forcing the brine upwardly from the last named gravel. f

7. The method of obtaining a purified solution of a salt, which consists in supporting the salt lupon a bed of gravel, forcing clear water through the salt and the gravel and thereafter through a second body of gravel spaced from the said gravel bed and lower than the latter, and then withdrawing the purified solution upwardly from the said second body of' gravel.

8. The method of obtaining a purified solution of a salt, which consists in supporting the salt upon a bed of gravel, forcing water first upwardly l through the salt, then downwardly throug the bed of gravel and thereafter through a second body of gravel spaced from the said gravel bed and lower than the latter, and then withdrawing the purified solution upwardly from the said second body of gravel.

9. The method of obtaining a purified brine solution which consists in supporting a thick bed of salt within a container on a per- 'forate supporting member, introducing clear water into the tank within the bed of salt so as to force the `water upwardly through*- through the salt, then downwardly throug the bed of gravel and thereafter through a "second body of gravel s aced from Lthe said gravel bed and lower t an the latter, and then withdrawing-the purified solution upwardly from the said secnd body of avel, and intermittently flushing the secon body of gravel to remove insoluble sediment therefrom.

11. In an apparatus for producing a purified solution of a salt, a gravel bed for supporting the salt and retainin the insoluble constituents thereof, a second ody of gravel disposed below and spaced from the gravel bed, a `connection for feeding the brine which percolates through the gravel bed to the second body of gravel, means for Withdrawing the resulting purified brine upwardly from the. second body of gravel,

and then. downwardl means for withdrawing impurities downwardly from the second body of gravel, and means for operatively disconnecting the second body of gravelfrom the feeding connections and the said upward brine withdrawal means during the said downward withdrawal of im uritiesr Signed at hicago, January 30th, 1924. HERBERT D. OXLEY. 

